As we search for an answer, it is important to realize that Jesus was not the first to use the expression. In fact, it appears over 100 times in the Old Testament! In many contexts it functions as an idiom, meaning something like "human being" or "mere mortal" (Num 23:19; Job 25:6; Ps 8:4; Sir 17:30), and can be applied to individual men like the prophets Ezekiel (Ezek 2:1, 3) and Daniel (Dan 8:17). There are times in the Gospels when Jesus seems to speak of himself in this way, presumably to emphasize his full solidarity with humanity. In this sense Jesus is the "Son of man" because he possesses a true human body (Jn 6:53) and has the capacity for human activities like resting (Mt 8:20), eating and drinking (Lk 7:34), suffering (Mk 8:31), and even lying in a grave (Mt 12:40).

But something more lies hidden within this "Son of man" expression that, in certain contexts, stretches it beyond merely human limitations. Sometimes Jesus refers to himself in this way, and then goes on to claim all kinds of divine prerogatives for himself. As the "Son of man", he has the authority to forgive sins (Mk 2:10), suspend the Sabbath (Mk 2:28), and judge men for their deeds (Jn 5:27), and he even claims to be sent down from heaven (Jn 3:31)! What accounts for this fuller meaning? Could Jesus expect his disciples to unpack from this simple expression such enormous claims of divine authority?

The answer again leads us to the Old Testament, this time to the Book of Daniel. Here the prophet spends an entire chapter describing a bizarre vision of things to come (Dan 7:1-28). At first Daniel sees four beasts trudging up out of the sea, with each one looking more ferocious and powerful than the one before it. These monsters, we are told, represent pagan empires notoriously hostile to Israel. They instigate war with God's faithful people, called the "saints of the Most High" (Dan 7:25), and then the fourth and worst beast begins to trample them mercilessly. All of a sudden, the scene jumps from earth to heaven, where a celestial courtroom is in session and the Lord is seated as one "ancient of days" upon his royal throne (Dan 7:9). Into his presence comes a glorious figure "like a son of man", being escorted on the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:13). The court judges this "son of man" to be a worthy figure and gives him a kingdom unmatched in size and prestige by any other in history. With his coronation, the court likewise pronounces a verdict of condemnation upon the fourth beast, strips him of his power, and hands over his dominion to the "Son of man" and the "saints" of God (Dan 7:26-27).

Here we see a "Son of man" who looks more like a glorious and divine Messiah than a lowly and insignificant mortal. He is enthroned in heaven, given authority over all nations, and his royal appointment signals the dramatic defeat of God's enemies. The victorious outcome of this prophetic dream makes it impossible to think that Jesus could adopt for himself a title like the "Son of man" without drawing the minds of his followers back to this memorable vision. Indeed, there are several occasions in the Gospels when he makes unmistakable allusions to it (Mt 19:28; 24:30; 25:31). In these instances, we see Jesus teaching his disciples through the Scriptures about his own kingship and about the authority given him to triumph over evil. Even at his trial, Jesus can stand face to face with his accusers and claim that the death sentence awaiting him will not mean his demise. For he is the "Son of man", and the Father will soon vindicate him, raise him up, seat him on a royal throne, and decree the destruction of all his enemies (Mt 26:64; Mk 14:62).

The "Son of man" is an expression that tells us a great deal about the Messiah and his mission. Its roots in the Old Testament show it to be versatile and full of significance, able to draw our attention to things human and mortal and to lift us up to see a glorious king seated next to the Lord. Who, then, is this "Son of man"? It is Jesus Christ, who conquered evil and now sits enthroned in heaven, exercising his universal kingship over the world through the Church (Mk 16:19; Acts 7:56; Rev 14:14-16). «Back to Luke 18:1.

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